Copy and paste this worksheet as a separate page linked to the Homepage of your portfolio. DO NOT type your answers on THIS document because it needs to be used by other students. The title of your page which replies to these questions is linked to your portfolio and should begin with the first initials of your first and last name. (In my case, the link to this worksheet from my portfolio page might well read frweddingband.)
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than 12:01am Sunday, January 28). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Wedding Band. In other words,
“Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
Where Are we: We are actually located in South Carolina, located near the sea I believe, as is hinted at the beginning of the play.
When is it: This play occurs on a sunny Saturday morning during one of my favorite times in history, near the end of WW1.
Who are the people involved: Well, The character Julia has just moved into a new small place. She has neighbors Teeta (Daughter), Mattie (Mother), Lula, Nelson (Son), and Fanny (Landlord).
What's the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds: Teeta has lost a quarter outside and is desperate to find it (A quarter wasa a lot of money back then) and the tension arises from there.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? NOTE: Arguments might be made for several different points where stasis is broken. Be prepared to defend your point of view, if different from other students.
What Intrusion Causes STASIS Breakage: The obvious intrusion is Henry? Spontaneously showing up to the homestead of Julia. As a white man he is viewed differently from the black community, save for Julia. It must be understood that during this time the Prejudices surrounding both black and white folk ran high between the clashing races.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor comes in two parts. Firstly, Herman comes on the ten year anniversary with a surprise for his Julia: An offer to travel up north. Now this comes as a shock to all, but then the second factor kicks in. Just as they're discussing their plans to move up north, Herman becomes ill out of NOWHERE and collapses, bringing up the second unique factor.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.) The Dramatic Question(s): The main question is that of racial integration of cultures. In this small group, will those that are otherwise so angry with white fold come to learn that not ALL are as evil as the norm suggests? The members of this community witnessed interracial love, but not only that, TRUE love. Will they learn to see that not all is as bad as it seems with these two contrasting groups of populations? That's the biggest question here, in my opinion.
5. Use Julia to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual or individuals, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles in the play.
Me against Society is the largest problem faced for Julia. In this story she is doing something that is viewed as inconceivable, and downright wrong. Society views these tow racial groups as completely different in every way, making sure that they are indeed seperate an not equal. These concepts drive the groups further apart and Julia knows that both parties will see their relationship as as something that is downright WRONG. Another problem she faces is one against herself. As she considers moving with Herman we see that she is hesitant. She'd be leaving her old life behind for good, and never coming back. THEN when Herman becomes sick and tells her to leave she becomes torn. She knows she can't just leave him behind, but he's dying and she has to make a choice eventually.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Wedding Band.
The biggest moment is obviously the clash between Julia and Herman's mother. Despite their history of Julia helping Herman's mother, she is inconsiderate and downright rude to Julia because of what she looks like (skin tone). Julia has had enough and has a huge argument clash with Herman's mother and THAT is what the biggest Theatrical Moment is.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Wedding Band. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The Quarter: This signifies the troubles of a poor community. As discussed in class, this quarter represents a large portion of opportunities and even chances of survival in a small black community.
The Wedding Band: This is a commitment item. One that shows not just love, but a COMMITMENT to staying with the one you love and giving everything for them.
The Train Ticket: This ticket is a new start for a fresh live. A re-spawn, so to speak. If she wanted to, Julia could simply take the train and start over in the north, leaving the past behind. The imagery here is simple, yet charged with potential options for the future. 8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Wedding Band.
Easily the best themes are that of Ethnicity, Family Relations, and Societal Relations and their conflicts.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Wedding Band? Perhaps you might argue for several different kinds of family in this particular play. What do you think? Easily how those in this community could look after one another. The largest one is how Julia gives the tickets to her family, even though they don't agree on everything.
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than 12:01am Sunday, January 28). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Wedding Band. In other words,
“Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
Where Are we: We are actually located in South Carolina, located near the sea I believe, as is hinted at the beginning of the play.
When is it: This play occurs on a sunny Saturday morning during one of my favorite times in history, near the end of WW1.
Who are the people involved: Well, The character Julia has just moved into a new small place. She has neighbors Teeta (Daughter), Mattie (Mother), Lula, Nelson (Son), and Fanny (Landlord).
What's the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds: Teeta has lost a quarter outside and is desperate to find it (A quarter wasa a lot of money back then) and the tension arises from there.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? NOTE: Arguments might be made for several different points where stasis is broken. Be prepared to defend your point of view, if different from other students.
What Intrusion Causes STASIS Breakage: The obvious intrusion is Henry? Spontaneously showing up to the homestead of Julia. As a white man he is viewed differently from the black community, save for Julia. It must be understood that during this time the Prejudices surrounding both black and white folk ran high between the clashing races.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor comes in two parts. Firstly, Herman comes on the ten year anniversary with a surprise for his Julia: An offer to travel up north. Now this comes as a shock to all, but then the second factor kicks in. Just as they're discussing their plans to move up north, Herman becomes ill out of NOWHERE and collapses, bringing up the second unique factor.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The Dramatic Question(s): The main question is that of racial integration of cultures. In this small group, will those that are otherwise so angry with white fold come to learn that not ALL are as evil as the norm suggests? The members of this community witnessed interracial love, but not only that, TRUE love. Will they learn to see that not all is as bad as it seems with these two contrasting groups of populations? That's the biggest question here, in my opinion.
5. Use Julia to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual or individuals, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles in the play.
Me against Society is the largest problem faced for Julia. In this story she is doing something that is viewed as inconceivable, and downright wrong. Society views these tow racial groups as completely different in every way, making sure that they are indeed seperate an not equal. These concepts drive the groups further apart and Julia knows that both parties will see their relationship as as something that is downright WRONG. Another problem she faces is one against herself. As she considers moving with Herman we see that she is hesitant. She'd be leaving her old life behind for good, and never coming back. THEN when Herman becomes sick and tells her to leave she becomes torn. She knows she can't just leave him behind, but he's dying and she has to make a choice eventually.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Wedding Band.
The biggest moment is obviously the clash between Julia and Herman's mother. Despite their history of Julia helping Herman's mother, she is inconsiderate and downright rude to Julia because of what she looks like (skin tone). Julia has had enough and has a huge argument clash with Herman's mother and THAT is what the biggest Theatrical Moment is.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Wedding Band. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The Quarter: This signifies the troubles of a poor community. As discussed in class, this quarter represents a large portion of opportunities and even chances of survival in a small black community.
The Wedding Band: This is a commitment item. One that shows not just love, but a COMMITMENT to staying with the one you love and giving everything for them.
The Train Ticket: This ticket is a new start for a fresh live. A re-spawn, so to speak. If she wanted to, Julia could simply take the train and start over in the north, leaving the past behind. The imagery here is simple, yet charged with potential options for the future.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Wedding Band.
Easily the best themes are that of Ethnicity, Family Relations, and Societal Relations and their conflicts.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Wedding Band? Perhaps you might argue for several different kinds of family in this particular play. What do you think?
Easily how those in this community could look after one another. The largest one is how Julia gives the tickets to her family, even though they don't agree on everything.